¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·

Family members of injured patients admitted to private hospitals during the quota reform movement are still worried about their bills.

Because of the overwhelming number of injured patients in public hospitals at the time, many injured people were forced to be admitted to private hospitals in search of better care.

The UN Human Rights Office, in its preliminary report on Bangladesh’s protests on Friday, said about 650 people were killed in the country between July 16 and August 6.

Of these, nearly 400 deaths were reported from July 16 to August 4, while around 250 people were killed following the new wave of violence on August 5–6.

Thousands of protesters and bystanders have been injured in hospitals during the period, leaving hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of patients.

Nabil Ahmed, a first-year HSC student at Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College, has been undergoing treatment at Popular Medical College Hospital, Dhanmondi, since July 20 after he was shot in the right knee while protesting with his friends at Rayerbag in Sanirakhra.

His father, Siddiqur Rahman, told ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· on Thursday that he had already paid Tk 4,00,000 to the hospital, and over Tk 3,00,000 more was due.

‘Three days ago, hospital authorities requested that I pay the outstanding bills,’ he stated. ‘The treatment cost is very high, but I have to save my only son,’ said Siddiqur. 

Nabil was rushed to Aurora Hospital with the injury, where the hospital charged Tk 40,000 for initial treatment and bandages, he said, adding that Aurora Hospital and Samorita Hospital authorities refused to admit Nabil.

Another injured person, Israfil Hossain, a grocery shopkeeper, was also admitted to the private hospital on July 30 after being shot in the right hand and abdomen in Savar on July 21.

His grandson Shihab said that Israfil was taken to Lab Zone Hospital initially on the day, then to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, and then to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

‘We did not get any beds in DMCH. We kept him on the floor,’ said Shihab, adding that Israfil was admitted to Popular Hospital on July 30.

‘We were informed that around Tk 4,50,000 was due in the hospital,’ said Shihab, mentioning that it was very difficult for the family to pay the bills.

A section of students under the platform of the Student Movement Against Discrimination made an allegation on Monday that the private hospital was charging too much for treatment.

The hospital deputy director, Mohammed Ishtiaq Sazzadur Rahman, claimed on Thursday that it was a misunderstanding.

Amid the protests of students, the hospital authorities decided to give free treatment, except for medicine costs, to the admitted patients relating to the quota reform movement from a humanistic perspective, said Ishtiaq.

There were 45 injured people admitted to the hospital, and among them, 11 were still undergoing treatment—six in the ICU and five in bed. 

Two critically injured patients were among seven admitted to Ibn Sina Hospital in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, during the movement, said an official of the hospital.

Four bullets pierced through the chest, left hand, right-hand finger, and left leg of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute third-year student Rifat Sarkar in front of the Savar police station on August 5.

His cousin Shakirul Islam said that Rifat was taken to Enam Medical College Hospital, but he was shifted to Ibn Sina Hospital on August 6 as there was huge pressure of patients in the hospital.

Rifat was in the ICU in the hospital from the first day until August 12 and is now in bed, said Shakirul.

‘We heard that around Tk 4,00,000 medical bills became due in the hospital,’ he said, adding that they did not know how long Rifat would have to stay in the hospital.

‘Rifat’s father was a garment worker. He cannot work now after a brain stroke. Rifat ran a small poultry farm. We do not know how we will pay the bills,’ said Shakirul.

Regarding the medical bills of injured patients during the movement, hospital medical service director Shahidul Goni said that the hospital authorities took the decision to provide free treatment.

The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, decided in a meeting on Sunday that it would prepare a list of injured protesters and that their treatment costs would be fully borne by the government.

Director General for Health Services’ director for hospitals Abu Hossain Md Mainul Ahsan, in an official letter on Thursday, urged public hospitals not to charge any injured who have been taking treatment in the hospitals.

The DGHS also asked private hospitals to ensure the treatment of the injured victims free of charge or at a minimal charge, respecting their contribution to the nation.

Shakirul said that neither any government official contacted the patient nor the family members were aware of the matter.